2. analog
  3. 179574-83759

What is the best tonearm for a SOTA Nova turntable?

I haven't played an LP for a while now. I've moved from CD's to streaming both Tidal and my own rips from a Roon Nucleus plus. My SOTA Nova with an ET2 arm has been sitting idle along with hundreds of high quality LP's. I've heard that the ET2 is not a good match with the SOTA, and may be the weak point in my analog chain. (SOTA-ET2-Lyra Kleos -Allnic 1201 phono stage- ARC Ref6- PS Audio-BHK300 amps-Reference 3a Grand Veena speakers and unnamed sub system. 

My digital system with a Holo May DAC and Roon with HQP trounces the analog system pretty soundly.

I'd like to resurrect the analog system as I have read that I'm missing out not using it.

My question is, where can I make the most improvement for the least cash outlay?

I'd like to keep the SOTA table, but everything else is expendable.

Thanks in advance for some help.

-John

gyneguy225
rdk777's avatar
rdk777
567 posts
 

I would say go the ARC Ref 3.  It's an end game phonostage - upgradeable to the SE if desired.  I went through a few phonostages before getting to the Ref 2SE. It adds a tubey flavor to my ss amp, in my pursuit, I've found that the best sound is when coupled with a good SUT.  

ghdprentice
6,394 posts
 

+1 on the Audio Research 3… I love mine. Before that: ARC PH8, ARC PH3SE, PH3, PH2SE, and PH2.

 

Audio Research makes incredible phono stages… well, and Preamps… well and amps… there DACs are amazing as well.

gyneguy225 OP
93 posts
 

You guys are pretty eager to spend my funds.😁 I'm listening to the Keseki cartridge for a while before I decide what to do next.

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

You guys are pretty eager to spend my funds.😁 …

I had an ifi phono stage on my list for a while.
Never got a listen to it, but the reviews were good and the price was low.

In the end, I ended up spending a bit more… but at that end it seemed like a consideration. The Sutherland units were also on my list a bit higher up.

I was replacing an ARC PH2… which was really pretty good in terms on MM with no loading options.

ghdprentice
6,394 posts
 

If I remember correctly the loading on the PH2 was done inside by soldering resistors. I got Vishay resistors and set for my cartridge. But then the ARC PH2 was released in 1993. Nearly 30 years ago. The advances in phono stages has been jaw dropping since then.

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